Marta Meschini
Founder
My purpose
I want to be PART of the systemic change needed to address current challenges. To do this, I aim to connect the three dimensions of sustainability: people, nature, and economy. As Helen Keller said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much," and I deeply believe that by working together across sectors and disciplines, we can develop long-term and impactful solutions.
My work is driven by a passion for creating a more sustainable future by bridging the gap between people, nature, and policy. For over eight years, I've applied a systems-based approach to complex challenges, focusing on empowering communities and stakeholders to become part of the solution.
My background
I hold a BSc in Biology, an MSc in Marine Biology, and a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Bologna, Italy.
During my Ph.D. within the FishMed program at the University of Bologna, I led the Sea Sentinels citizen science project. In this role, I managed a network of over 50 businesses, supervised students and volunteers in the data collection about marine biodiversity, and translated academic research into accessible materials for various audiences.
Simultaneously, as a consultant for Worldrise, I worked on the "Meroir" project. I designed and conducted interviews with small-scale fishermen to develop new criteria for a Meroir product—a product linked to the territory that also conveys the area's history and heritage.
As part of this project, I organised show-cooking events in culinary schools in Emilia Romagna with a local chef. These events were designed to engage future chefs in the importance of using sustainable, locally fished, and low-value species. Creting a market for these species while lessening the pressure on more requested ones.
In my role as a postdoc on the UKRI-funded "Resilient Coasts: Optimising Co-Benefit Solutions" project at the University of Liverpool, I investigated social-ecological systems in the UK. This work, funded under the Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources programme, focused on coastal management options related to climate change, with a focus on flooding and erosion risk. I used systems thinking and participatory techniques to co-investigate stakeholders' different perceptions of those systems.
Currently, I am a part-time Project Officer at the University of Liverpool for the "Coastal Communities And Seas Together for Resilience Network Plus" project. Funded under the Resilient Coastal Communities and Seas Programme, this initiative puts communities at the heart of a new network of transdisciplinary research, innovation, and practice. In this role, I organise workshops and high-profile events (including the 2026 project's Annual Forum), collect data, coordinate the Liverpool team, and manage project communications. Moving forward, my focus will expand to generating policy and academic outputs.